STANDARDS
COMMITTEE
17TH
JULY 2007
Present:
Mr N Briers (Independent non-Council Member);
Chair
Councillors P A Hallett, J Hammond and R Jones
Independent (non-Council)
Members:
Mr R Pomlett and Mr J Ross
Parish Representative:
Mr D Forrest
Officers in attendance:
Mr C Henshall
Borough Solicitor
Miss D Moulson
Democratic Services Officer
Mrs J
Vause
Communications Manager
Apologies: Councillor D
J Cannon
7.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
No Member made any declaration of interest in
respect of any item of business on the agenda.
8.
RECORD OF MEETING
AGREED: That the record
of the meeting held on 17 July 2007 be approved as correct.
9. PRESS
RELEASE PROTOCOL
The Committee was invited to consider a draft
press release protocol which had been drawn up to clarify both the
elected member and officer roles in the production and publication
of press releases. Members noted that if the Committee was
minded to approve the document, a recommendation would be submitted
to full Council to enable the protocol to be formally
adopted.
Clarification was provided for the Committee
of the difference between a press release issued on behalf of the
Council and a political press release issued by an elected
member, the parameters of each being identified within the
document. However, Members considered that political press
releases could themselves be divided into two further categories –
one issued to promote a political view and one to inform on a
factual
matter.
With regard to the last point, the
Communications Manager stressed that whilst the protocol did not
seek to ‘vet’ political releases it would be of benefit for copies
of intended communiqués, especially those of a factual nature to be
provided to the Communications Department. The Committee
considered this to be a prudent course of action.
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL:
That the Press Release Protocol be adopted.
10. THE LOCAL
AUTHORITIES (MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT) 2007
The Local Authorities (Model Code of Conduct)
2007 had come into force on 3 May 2007. Until such time as
the Code was formally adopted, Council’s remained bound by the
Local Authorities (Model Code of Conduct) (England) Order
2001. Authorities were being encouraged by the Standards
Board for England to adopt the Code voluntarily prior to it
becoming mandatory on 1 October 2007.
A copy of the revised Code was submitted to
the Committee together with an extract from the Standards Board for
England’s Bulletin No.33 which identified the main variances
between the two codes. Guidance notes supplied by the
Standards Board were also tabled at the meeting for Members’
information.
The Committee was informed that the Standards
Board for England had recommended that the Code be adopted without
modification other than to include, as a preamble, the Ten General
Principles of Public Life. Members were also informed of the
requirement to advertise the adoption of the Code by the Council;
both approaches being supported by the
Committee.
10.1 Disclosing
Confidential Information
Under the revised Code of Conduct, paragraph
4(a) set out the exceptional circumstances under which confidential
information could be disclosed. The Borough Solicitor
explained to the Committee that to comply with the requirements the
Council may need to put in place a protocol outlining the
Authority’s “reasonable requirements”, which would be submitted to
the Committee for consideration.
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL: That
11. CODE OF
CONDUCT – ARRANGEMENT FOR BRIEFING SESSIONS
Following on from its discussions at the last
meeting, the Committee was invited to confirm arrangements for the
briefing sessions on the revised Code of Conduct to be held for
Councillors on Tuesday 24 July 2007.
AGREED: That a) three
sessions be held commencing at 10am, 2pm and 6pm; and
b) copies of the Standards Board of England
“The Code of Conduct – Guide for Members” be supplied to all
Members of Council prior to the
briefings.
12. COMPLIMENTS,
COMMENTS AND COMPLAINTS
SCHEME
12.1 Information
Report
The Committee received details of the
Complements, Comments and Complaints Scheme which outlined
communications received by the Council for the period 12 April to
27 June 2007.
12.2 Update on the
Review of the Scheme
The Committee Officer updated Members on
progress made on the review of the Scheme to date; the Independent
Member requesting that the review focus not only on the quality of
information provided but also on the appropriate use of information
received.
13. STANDARDS BOARD FOR
ENGLAND ROADSHOW – 6 JUNE 2007
The Chairman and Borough Solicitor had
attended the Standards Board for England Roadshow event at
Liverpool on 6 June 2007; the programme for which had centred on
the revised Code of Conduct and future arrangements for local
determinations.
14. DATE OF NEXT
MEETING
4th September 2007
……………………. Chair